Valentine’s Day is this week and i know that can be a difficult day for some and for others it is just seen as a Hallmark holiday. For me Valentines day was always special.
When we were little my mom would always put little valentine treats in our lunches for school. And as i got older and the amount of children left at home was smaller (i am the 2nd youngest of 7 children) my mom started making special dinners on Valentines day for me and my younger sister. This was when my love for Filet mignon started.
This also carried over into my life with Pat. He would make steaks on Valentine’s day and also pick me up some brownies – my favorite dessert. We didn’t go overboard just bought each other cards and had dinner together. But i do know he always made me feel special and loved.
I know most people see Valentines day as a romantic holiday. I have always seen it as a day to express love. Whether that is love for our spouse or our children or parents or friends. And lets not forget our fur babies. It is a day to celebrate the great gift of love that we are able to give and receive.
This year i plan to spend the day being grateful for all i have been given in my life and to practice some self care. I will make myself i a nice dinner and remember the wonderful love i have received in my life. I will take a long walk with my little fur baby (Harry) he always makes me smile and brings a lot of joy and comfort to me. Here is a picture of him snuggling up on the couch. He’s my little Valentine:)
Maybe, I will even have a brownie or 2 before i take a nice long bubble bath before bed.
It is important to remember to practice self care as it is so easy to get caught up in the day to day world and not take care of ourselves. Do something nice for yourself and take a little break from the difficult task of grieving!
I wish you all a very Happy Valentines Day! Be kind to yourself!
About Eileen Clarke
Eileen Clarke is an average everyday woman whose life was torn apart on November 2, 2017 with the sudden loss of her husband Patrick (Pat).
She is now in the process of taking a journey that she never asked for but must take nonetheless. Her hope that in sharing her journey she may be able to help other woman as she embarks on her own unplanned journey of grief and rebuilding.
Eileen,
Thanks for your blog post. I lost my wife to cancer on the 6th of June 2017. Valentine’s day is sandwiched right in the middle of the anniversary of when my mom died of cancer, my birthday on the 19th of February and when my dad died of cancer on the 25th of February. A time when I would enjoy Valentine’s Day with my wife, reflect on the death of my parents and just our relationship together. This year is a bit more stressful as the day after my birthday I go for an MRI due to a problem with my left eye and the optic nerve. So the normal grief issues and then medical issues just helps to freeze me up.
Thank you for the blog and Happy Valentine’s Day from one widower to a fellow widow.